Protecting device for explosion-engines.



J. LENGEL. PROTECTING DEVIGE FOB EXPLOSION ENGINES. I AI'PLIOATIOR main11150.9, 190a. 934;,68() Patented Sept. 21, 1909.-

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JULIUS LENGEL, OF WEST PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

PROTECTING DEVICE FOR EXPLOSION-ENGINES.

934.,eso.

Application filed December 9, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JULIUS Lnxenn, a citizen of the United States,residing in est Philadelphia, city and county of Philadelphia, and Stateof Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inProtecting Devices for Explosion-Engines, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention aims to provide certain improvements applicable especiallyto twocycle explosion or internal combustion engines. The crank shaftbearings of such engines have usually given trouble because of theescape of gas between the shafting and the bearings after the motor hasbeen in use a short while. The gas in the crank case mixes with thegrease or other lubricant in the bearings and eats out all thelubricant, causing the bearings to wear rapidly. According to thisinvention the bearings are made inaccessible to the gas in the crankcase, and are also prevented from escaping when the bearing becomesworn. By this improvement the bearings are kept in good order for a longtime, and loss of the motive gas is avoided.

The accompanying drawings illustrate an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a cylinder and crankcase of an engine with my improvements applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a'faceelevation of the protecting device from the outer side. Fig. 3 is a faceelevation of the same from the inner side. Fig. 4 is a sectional view ofa slightly modified embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the embodiments of the invention illustrated, the enginehas the usual or any suitable piston A reciprocating in a cylinder B anddriving a crank C on a crank-shaft D, the crank being carried in a caseE provided with bearings F through which the shaft runs, usually to theflywheel at one side and to the driven mechanism at the other. Theexplosive gas or mixture is admitted to the crank case at G and passesthence through the admission passage 11 to the cylinder in which it isignited by an igniter J and from which it is discharged through a pipeK. This is the usual construction of two-cycle engine. It explodes oneach revolution of the shaft, so that a three-cylinder engine of-thistype will ex- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 21, 1909.

Serial No. 466,622.

plode as often as the six-cylinder four-cycle motors which are widely inuse for automobiles or similar uses. The two-cycle engine has also theadvantage of having no valves and no cam shaft to get out of order. Theescape of gas from the crank case after a comparatively short period ofuse has been however aserious defect which has prevented their becomingmore widely used. I propose to obviate these disadvantages by aprotecting device of such a design and location as to avoid increasingthe friction of the bearings materially and to practically prevent thepassage of through the bearings or the lubricating material thereof.This protecting device consists, in the embodiment illustrated, of aplate or dia phragm mounted on the shaft just inside of the bearing andengaging at its edge a suitable portion of the crank case with a tightcontact. In order to provide a close contact the case E preferablycarries a ring L of steel bolted or otherwise fastened thereon, with afinished inner face. The shaft carries a plate M of copper or othersuitable flexible material clamped upon the shaft by means of a splitcollar N and soldered or otherwise hermetically fastened at its outeredge to a ring 0 of steel having a bearing face engaging the ring Lcarried by the crank case. The gas in the crank case, subjected to apressure whenever the piston comes down, presses the plate M outward, sothat the steel ring at its edge engages the steel ring on its crank caseto make a substantially gas-tight joint.

In order to hold the ring 0 close against the ring L, springs arepreferably provided. For example, fiat springs P connected to the splitcollar N, may have their outer ends engaged with the ring 0 and pressingthe latter always outward, that is to say, against the ring L.

In engines of the type shown in Fig. 1, in which the cranks C extend inboth directions from the shaft D, the pressure may be effected also bymeans of a pair of springs Q, approximately iVl-shaped, fastened to pinsR projecting from the adjacent crank. Where,

however, a crank of the type shown at C,

Fig. 4, is used,that is to say, a crank at only one side of theshaft,-the use of such pins B would result in an unbalanced or onesidedpressure upon the protecting device.

Consequently in this case the spring Q, is omitted and the radialsprings P are depended upon to secure the closure;

The protectors described may be applied very readily to existingengines, and they substantially protect the bearings and prevent anymaterial loss of gas. This loss of gas at a rate which increases as theengine gets older is a serious matter, the result of which is that theengine begins to lack power, and in order to get the desired power thecarbureter is adjusted to give a richer mixture which is moreexpensiveand less regular in its operation than that for which the engine wasdesigned.

The protector can be introduced in a very narrow space and has theadvantage of being concealed within the crank case. It is thoughtunnecessary to lubricate the engaging faces of the rings 0 and L, thoughspecial provision may be made for this if necessary. Ordinarily noseparate provision is necessary, as the surfaces will be oiled to someextent by the surplus oil from the bearing which keeps the shaft oiledand which will be carried out to the rings 0 and L by centrifugal force.

What I claim is 1. A gas engine in which the gas passes through thecrank case, and having means for protecting the bearings from the gas,said means comprising a flexible diaphragm extending from the shaft to aportion of the crank case surrounding the bearing and making asubstantially rigid gas-tight engagement with the shaft and a tightengagement with said portion of the crank case.

2. A gas engine in which the gas passes through the crank case, andhaving means for protecting the bearings from the gas, said meanscomprising a flexible diaphragm rotating with the shaft and having arigid, gas-tight engagement therewith, and making a tight engagement atits edge with the portion of the crank case surrounding the bearing.

3. A gas engine in which the gas passes through the crank case, andhaving means for protecting the bearings from the gas, said meanscomprising a flexible diaphragm rotating with the shaft and having arigid gas-tight engagement therewith, a ring of metal carried at theedge of said diaphragm, a ring of metal carried by the portion of thecrank case surrounding the bearing and having a face which makes a tightsliding contact with the face of the ring carried by the diaphragm.

4:. A gas engine in which the gas passes through the crank case, andhaving means for protecting the bearings from the gas, said meanscomprising a flexible diaphragm rotating with the shaft and having arigid gas-tight engagement therewith, a ring of metal carried at theedge of said diaphragm, a ring of metal carried by the portion of thecrank case surrounding the bearing and having a face which makes a tightsliding con tact with the face of the ring carried by the diaphragm, anda spring pressing one of said rings against the other.

5. A gas engine in which the gas passes through the crank case, andhaving means for protecting the bearings from the gas, said meanscomprising a flexible diaphragm rotating with the shaft and having arigid gas-tight engagement therewith, a ring of metal carried at theedge of said diaphragm, a ring of metal carried by the portion of thecrank case surrounding the bearing and having a face which makes a tightsliding contact with the face of the ring carried by the diaphragm, andsprings P attached at their inner ends and having their outer ends inengagement with the ring carried by the diaphragm so as to press saidring against the ring carried by the crank case.

6. A gas engine in which the gas passes through the crank case, andhaving means for protecting the bearings from the gas, said meanscomprising a flexible diaphragm rotating with the shaft and having arigid gas-tight engagement therewith, a ring of metal carried at theedge of said diaphragm, a ring of metal carried by the portion of thecrank case surrounding the bearing and having aface which makes a tightsliding contact with the face of the ring carried by the diaphragm, andsprings Q, on the outer face of the diaphragm and engaged by projectingportions of the crank to press the edge of said diaphragm toward thecrank case.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signedmy name in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

JULIUS LENGEL.

Witnesses:

A. C. BUZBY, JOHN D. ULMER.

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